Thrombosis of the central retinal vein and its branches is a common ophthalmological disease in patients of the older age group, which ranks second after diabetic retinopathy and can lead to a persistent significant decrease in vision.
Risk factors for retinal vein thrombosis:
- age over 50,
- arterial hypertension,
- diabetes mellitus,
- smoking,
- obesity,
- increased blood clotting,
- glaucoma,
- retinal artery anomalies.
In some cases, the disease may be asymptomatic and is diagnosed only after consultation with an ophthalmologist. More often, patients complain of decreased vision, the appearance of a "veil in front of their eyes", and "blurred vision". The cause of such symptoms may be macular edema, which complicated the course of thrombosis.
Until recently, medicine did not have effective means of combating macular edema. Currently, intraocular (intravitreal) injections of VEGF antagonists (ranibizumab, aflibercept) have been proven to be an effective and safe treatment for macular edema caused by thrombosis of the central retinal vein and its branches. Corticosteroids (triamcinolone, dexamethasone) have also proven themselves well, but their intravitreal administration is associated with a high risk of side effects. Laser coagulation is also a fairly effective method of treating macular edema, although visual acuity may eventually be lower than with intravitreal injections. Thus, modern techniques make it possible to preserve and in some cases improve the eyesight of many patients who may have lost it in the recent past.
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